Panic bolt latch and door construction



Nov. 4, 1952 D. c. l -lAY PANIC BOLT LATCH AND DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l Snoentor, DAN/5L G HAY D. C. HAY

PANIC BOLT LATCH AND DOOR CONSTRUCTION Nov. 4, 1952 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1948 Nov. 4, 1952 D. c. HAY

PANIC BOLT LATCH AND DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 16 1948 Snnentor 25 DAN/EL 6 Hm n. /&

(Ittomeg D. c. HAY

PANIC BOLT LATCH AND DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 16, 1948 Nov. f1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllllll lllllllllllllllll I vlll ||l|| IIIIII l wf b e n r m a Patented Nov. 4, 1952 OFFICE PANIC BOLT LATCH AND DOOR CONSTRUCTION Daniel 0. Bay, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application April 16, 1948, Serial No. 21,535

17 Claims.

This invention relates to door locks and particularly pertains to a panic bolt latch and door construction.

At present it is required by law that public auditoriums, such as schools, churches and theatres, shall be provided with doors which swing outwardly and which may normally be lockedv to. prevent entrance to the auditorium from the outside While responding to instant action to be releasedwhen it is desired to open the door from the inside at such times as when fire or. other. disaster occurs. doors of this type have been cumbersome in cons'truction'and haveinvolved the use of complicated operating :mechanism which has been mounted on the outside of the door and the door frame, and which therefore might be easily rendered inoperative. Such structures often require the manipulation of releasing means at the time of: an emergency and the attendant confusion and there may be difficulty in unlatching the door. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a panic bolt lock which is simple in construction, certain in operation, and is so designed as to be incorporated completely within the door frame structure, in which the parts may be easily assembled and are not liable to get out of order and will operate eifectively at all times.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a panic bolt lock construction which may be used with any type of door including full glass doors. The structure being so designed as to insure that pressure exerted against the operatingbar of the door incident to an effort to open the door will force the operating bar against the latch trigger and cause the door to be instantly unlatched.

The present invention contemplates the pr vision of a door frame structure within which doors are mounted to swing upon vertical axes, and which frame structure forms a housing for operating mechanism to be actuated automatically to normally hold the door in its latched position and to be instantly released when the door is .to be opened from the inside of an auditorium or the like. The said structure also contemplates means for holding the latch mechanism in a disengaged position when the door is open and for positively locking the latch mechanism in an engaged position when the door is closed. v

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation showing a double swinging door of the plate glass type, and which door is mounted within a door frame carrying the panic bolt lock mechanism of which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. .2 is an enlarged View in horizontal section s-seme .ther n -2015 F e- .-show g t e In many instancesv 2 overhead portion of the lock structure and indicating the position of the door when closed in solid lines and partially open in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through a portion of the door as seen on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and indicates the adjustable strike plate and the latchstructure associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and shows the latch structure in its intermediate position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 showing the latch structure in its moved position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section and elevation as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 1

and shows the mounting of the operating bar and the mechanism affected thereby.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the latch operating mechanism and the lock in their unlocked position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. '7 showing the lock mechanism in its locked position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latch holding and releasing member.

Fig. 10 is a detailed vertical section taken through the door and panic bar at the fitting and pivot pin of the bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, It indicates the door posts of a door frame, at the top of which is a lintel H. The door posts, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, may be a metal channel structure comprising the web portion [2 and legs l3. The door posts may be spaced apart a distance to accommodate a pair of swinging doors I4, or a single door if desired. A door sill I5 extends across the entrance of th door and between the door posts [0. Suitable bearing structures l6 are mounted in the door sill and carry hinge pins l'l upon which the bottom edges of the doors I4 are pivoted. Complementary pins l8 are disposed at the upper'edges of the doors l4 and are in vertical alignment with the pins 11.

It has been explained that the doors may be of any suitable construction. This particular panic bolt lock, however, has special advantages when used in connection with tempered glass.

doors. Such doors include lower and upper channel members l9 and 20 into which the lower and upper edges of the plate glass elements are fitted and fixed. Mounted upon each of the doors at a suitable height is a panic cross-bar 2|. These cross-bars'are carried at the free ends of lever arms 22.v These arms are secured to fittings 23.by pivot pins. 24. The pivot pins 24 are disposed in horizontal alignment, thus allowing the panic boltcross-bars to have a limited swinging movement around the axis of the pins. Mounted upon the ends of the panic bolt crossbars; 2l contiguous to the door posts ID are The enlarged channel 28* extends across the top of the door. The top of this channel is open and in the channel anja1d-; j justable roller strike plate 29 is mounted and carried within the channel. This strike plate which fit between the vertical legs of the channel28. The end portions 3l are paralleLto'each otherand are spaced apart to accommodate-the width of a latch structure 32. On theportions 3| of the strike plate 29 and adjacent to the lower edge of the plate are bosses 33. Threaded bores 34 extend through these bosses and into the plate 29. the bosses and have acon'ical outer-end face so that the cap screws may be tightenedwi-th their heads against one of the vertica'l'legsofthe channel 28-while forcing the strike plate toward the 'opposite vertical leg of thechannel 28. Threaded bores 36 are also formed in thepor'tions 3! of the strike plate 29 in a horizontal plane abovethat of the bores 34-. These accommodate screw studs 31 which may-be forced against the contiguous leg of the channel 28and willadj-ust the strike plate horizontally. Locknuts 38 are mounted upon'the studs 31 to holdthem in their set position, and lock nuts 39 are mounted upon the cap screws 35 to hold them in their set position.

A roller 4| is pivotally mounted on a horizontalpin 42 carried at the upper edge of the strike plate 29 and is designed tobe engaged by the overhanging latch 40. The latch 40 'is mounted upon a pivot pin 44 which is carried in the lintel channel I I of the door frame by a bearing plate- 44'. A spring 48 is wrapped around the pin 44, and one end of this spring engages the latch structure 32 and the other end engages the*mem'-' ber 44' and tends to urge the latch; member 40" toward its latching position. A rigid extension of the latch forms a pair of spaced arms Hand 46. The pivot pin 44 is mounted in bearings 41 and 48 of the plate 44' so that the latch structure may oscillate on the pin 44. At the free ends of the arms 45 and are rollers 49' and 56. These rollers rotate upon parallel axes which are at right angles to the axis of the pin 44. Disposed between the rollers 49 and 50 is a cam The cam is formed with opposite ar'cuate faces 52 and 53 which incline downwardly and inward- 1y to a point below apivot shaft 54. The pivot shaft 54 is disposed horizontally upon a suitable bearing 55 and allows the cam 5| to oscillate in.

a vertical plane. A downwardlyextending lever portion 56 is defined by the opposite curved faces 52 and 53. At the free end of the lever 56 is a pivot pin 51 which carries a U-shaped yoke 58.

Cap screws 35'are threaded into The yoke 58 has a pair'of up-turned legs 59' and I 66 which are spaced a distance apart agreeing. with the spacing of the rollers 49 and 50. The ends of these legs are semicircular and convex. When this yoke is'in its intermediate position the legs of the yoke extend vertically and register with the under faces of the rollers 49 and 58 and are'in vertical axial alignmenttherewith to hold theserollers in contact with the'faces 52 and- 53 of the cam5 I. The-camandthe yoke will thus cooperate to prevent swinging movement of the latch 32 and will hold the latch in looking engagement with the strike plate 29. A pivot pin BI is carried by the yoke 58 and -is;disposed near the le .59,.which is on theside of thepivot 51 nearest to the door hinges or pivots. The pin 61 provides a pivotal connection for a latch bar 62 which extends horizontally within the channel II". A latch rod 63 is connected to the free end of the bar 62 by a pin 64. The rod 63 extends through a bearin 65 and has a reduced end portion 66 which extends through a bearing 61. A lug 68 extends outwardly from the side of the bearing 65 and. has a bore 69 through it to receive a latch pin..18. The latch pin 10 carries. a collar 1! through which the latchprod 63 extends; This-collar has: a central b'oreuot greater diameter than that of the latch rod 63' which will permit the collar to shift laterally in a plane normal to. the axis of the rod 63. A: trip member 12-extends outwardly from theside;

of the rod 63, and when the collar 1| is shifted to an eccentric position with relation to the. rod the pin will prevent. longitudinal movementof:

the rod 63. toward the latch structure. The pin 10 has an enlarged head 13 at itsouter end which, isurged outwardly by a spring 14.. The spring.-v is disposed between the head and the lug. .68.. Thus, when'the door 14 is open the spring will urge the head 13 outwardly and will draw the collar 1| over to anobstructing position with relation to the lu 12 on-the rod '63. When-the doorclcse the head 13 will be encounteredand will force the pin inwardly.

Fixed upon the latch rod 63 near itsreduced:

end portion 66. is a laterally extending lug 15 formed with a bore 16 through it. This bore accommodates a guide rod 11 for a spring 16 and:

isfitted with a nut 19 to adjust the effective length of the rod. A trip bar is slidablyguided by the bearing 61 and has a turned end portion- 8! formed with'a bore 82 to receive the guidered' 11 and a bore 83 to receive the reduced end pertion 66 of the latch rod. The spring 18'is interposed between the lug 15 and the turned portion 8h A spring 84 acting in the opposite direction is interposed betweenthe turned portion; 8| or the latch-bar 80 and the bearing 61. The trip bar 80 Slides horizontally Within the lintel Chan nel II as moved by rotation of a torque rod 85.1

The torque rod 85 is disposed vertically withina housing 85' which is secured to and forms a part of the door post 10 adjacent to which the door' 14 is hinged. This rod at its upper end projects into channel II and carries mar uelever 86. At the free end of the torquelever is an upwardly projecting pin 81 which engages'a face of an extension 88 .formed on the-end ofthe trip bar 80 opposite-tothe extension 8| and paralleltherewithr The pin 81 is designed te engagethe extension BB anddraW-the trip bar an in the direction of the torque roe 85. As here shown and described the torque rod 85isdesigned 75 unlatc'hed positiona keylock s'tructuregenerelii aamuss:

indicated at 90 15 provided; This includes outer housing 9| secured within the doorpost and' mounted to extend through the outer leg |3 of the post channel. Mounted within the outer end of the housing is a lock barrel unit 92 which may be actuated by a key 93. Secured to the operating mechanism of the barrel unit is a threadedstem94 which engages a nut 95. The thread on the stem 94 is a multiple thread of steep pitch so that the stem will be quick acting. The' nut 95 is carried by a plunger 96 which-reciprocates longitudinally of the housing 9|. 'The end of the plunger opposite to the nut 95 isdesigned to engage alever arm 91 which extends through a slotted opening in the side of the housing 9| and is here shown as a part.

of the trigger 89 which is fixed upon the torque rod 85. Thus, when the plunger 96 is moved to its extreme position within the housing 9| as indicated in Fig. 8 the torque rod 85 will be held in rotated latch releasing position.

In operation of the panic bolt structure with which the present invention is concerned, the latch control mechanism is assembled completely in the channel structure of the door frame which includes the channel door posts l and the lintel vThis assembled structure is then in condition for surface application to the doorway at the time of installation and isa ner to give desired clearance so that the door will swing freely over the threshold. The roller strike plate29 is properly adjusted with relation to the latch member 32 so that the latch will hold the door in its locked position, at which time the latch cam 5| will be in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the yoke 58 will be disposed with its, legs 59 and 60 in obstructing positions beneath the rollers 49 and 58. At this time the door l4 will be closed and latched. If it .is desired to retain the latch in released position the key 93 may be inserted in the keyhole of the lock barrel structure 92 so that the pin 94 maybe rotated to force the plunger 96 against the lever arm 91 and thus swing the pin 81 against the extension 88 of the bar 80. A reverse operation will of course release the entire latch mechanism so that. the door latch may be controlled by movement of the panic bolt crossbar 2|.

Whenfit is desired to release the door latch by the panic bolt cross-bar 2| pressure is exerted against the bar to swing it in the direction of the arrow ain Fig. 6 of the drawing. This will cause the cam member 25 to swing inwardly and engage the inclined face 89 of the trigger '89. The trigger will then swing in the direction of the arrow b as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing and-will rotate the torque rod 85. This in turn will cause the lever arm 86 to rotate in the same direction so that the pin 81 on the end of the lever arm will engage the extension 88 of the trip bar80 and'will pull the latch rod 63 in the directionof the arrow 0, as shown in Fig. 2. This poll will be against the expansion of spring 34'. When the latch rod 63 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 0 the latch bar 62 will also be pulled',"and this will act through the yoke 58 toswing the latch cam 5| in the direction of the arrow ayas indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawin'g. When this takes placethe cam surface 53 of -the niember-5| will engage the roller 68 Which isf'carrie'd: Ion-i extension arm 46 of the. latch structure 32. The result will be that the will relieve itspressure upon the head 13 of the,

pin 14 and will-thus shift the collar 1| laterally of the latch rod 63. Thus when pressure on the panic bolt cross-bar is relieved the action of springs 18 and 84 .will tend .to restore the latch rod 63, the latch bar 62 and the cam 5| to their original positions, as indicatedin Fig. 4 of the drawings. The collar 1|, however, will be engaged by the lug 12 onthe rod 63 and will prevent this movement until the. door is again closed. When the door is closed again it will engage the head 13 of the pin 18 andshift the collar 1| to a nonobstructing-position; The spring 18 will then produce end thruston the rod 63 and move the cam 5| to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus swinging the strike roller 42 downwardly and in locking position with relation to the strike plate. At the same time the arms 59 and 6901 the yoke -58.will move into an obstructing position'beneath the rollers 49 and 50 and will hold the latch 32 in its locked position. The operation ofrestoring the latch parts to the positions shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings as previously described is aided by the force of, the spring 40' which tends to swing the latch 4|] downwardly toward an engaging position and also tends tolift the rollers 49 and 50 to .the position shown in Fig. 4. The simul-' taneous lifting actionof the rollers 49 and 50 will aid in restoring cam member 5| to the position shown in Fig. 4.

. From the foregoing description it will be evident that the door will bepositively latched when it is closed, and that it will be automatically and instantly opened when pressure is applied to the panicbolt cross-bar. Furthermore, it will be noted that manipulation of the latchstructure by the panic cross-bar cannot .take place except when the door is closed and when the door has engaged the head 13 of the pin 19 to move the collar 1| into a non obstructing position with relation to the lug 12 on the latch bar 63.

It will thus be seen that the panic bolt lock structure here disclosed is of simple construction and provides. parts which are strong and are not liable to break or get out of order, the structure being so designed as to be assembled compactly with the channel members of a door frame, thus making it possible for the entire lock structure to be assembled at the plant and installedas a at the point of application. It will also be noted thatby the lock and latch structure here disclosed it is'possible to posi. tively lock the door to temporarily latch it in a manner --to insure that when pressure is applied to the panic bolt this will transmit a movement to the latch structure which will automatically and naturally unlatch the door as pressure is applied against the door and the bolt in an effort to open the door as would be the situation under panic conditions. a

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention asnow known tome, it will be understood that various changes may be made in coins eron-sac bifiatiom construction-and anarigement antmarts by those skilled in thee-art, withoutxpdeparting. from the spirit of thesinventiom as claimed;:

Having thus. described .rmy invention; what: I' claim and desire to .secure byaLetters,Patent-is;

1. A latch structure of theipa'nic'yboltatypeto be used incombination with adoorirame and a'swinging door, comprisingi zat latch rcarriedhby the: door frame for engaging thesedgepofithe swinging door adjacent to ltsuiree-end operating moans extending longitudinally within the frameof the door andl'acting to "positively; latch the door when the door is closed, said latch operating -means having; a-:,trigger, and a -pani'c.

bolt cross-'bar-carried by the -doorandtzadapted to be moved to engage: said trigger and actuate said latch 'operatingrmea'na:

2. A latch structure of the panic 'bol-ti-typeato be used in combination with a door-:trame :and a swinging door; comprising -'a :-l'atch earried bythe'door frame for. engaging; the edge of the swinging door adjacent to its 'freeend, latch operating means-extending longitumnallywithin the frame -ofthe door and 'acting-to-- posittvely latch the-door when the door isclosed, .said'latch operating means having -atrigger, a panicb'olt cross-bar carried by the-door -and adapted to be moved to engage said trigger-and actuate :saidl latch operating means; and means," forming-a part of said latch operating means --and-ac'ti'-ng to holdthe'latch in a non-engaging; position and responsive to the-closing-of said doorto -restore-saiddatch to-door lathing'positions 3; A latch of the panic bolt-typezfor *use combination with a- -door;frame and-asw inging door, comprising, a latchmember pivotally mounted in the door frame and adapted to move to an engaging position withxthe- -door positive means for moving the latch-member toward and away from its latch-ing-positionrsai'd means-ineluding an operating structure incorporated within the lintel of the door frame anda-torque rod extending vertically down the :door post alljacen't to the pivot of thedoor; a panic bolt QI S bar mounted upon the door and uponia.h'oriaon tal axis. and co pera in me ns b w en s os bar and the torque rod forrotatin gfthe torque rod when the ,cross bar is moved toward "thedoor'.

4. The' structure of claim 3 jinoludingmeans latching position while the door is open :andifor releasing the latch structure when the door has. been closed.

5. A latch of the "panic boltztype itor'use in combination withia door frame and' a swinging. door formed with a recessin itsfiupper edge, comprising an overhanging latch member" piv= oted on a horizontal axis within the lintelpf the door frame and'having'"a. free. end'adapted-to swing into the recess in the-upper edge ofthe door, a pair of arms formed upon the opposite end of the latch member, each ann'carryingfia' roller disposed on a horizoptalaxis; a cam dispose-d w sa rms a d m fite il q ra horizontal pivot within the lintel "of "the door frame, said cam being' formedg with oppositely and downwardly inclined cam faces-with which said rollers may be in simultaneous engagement, a lever extension formed as apart 'of said cam structure and being disposed below its -pivotal axis, a draw-bar assemblywconnected withlsaid lever and extending horizontally-:withim the lintel, a vertically extending torqueirodimonnted forrotation within a housing providedroncthe.

meter the.rdoor;aemsststoaita 35 8, 1;

, and cooperating means, between; the crossrbar andlthe torque rod for rotating. the torque-rod: when the cross-bar is. movedginwardlyl '6. A latch of the panic bolt tyne'ror use --,ini combination with a door frame formed with, ;a

. channel-shaped lintel and within which frame a door having a recess in. its upper horizontal edge. is mounted for swinging :motion, comprise ing adjacent to its free vertical edge, a latch arm: mounted within the lintel channel of the door frame for vertical .swingingmovemenh, the. free'endof saidlatch arm overhangingthe recess in the edge 'of the door. when. the :dooris closed, a pair'of horizontally-spaced. arms: formed in-n tegral with the latch. plate and GXtEHdiIIEJOPB- positely from the pivotal axisiof the plate, apair. of rollers, one mounted at the end -of;-each1of said arms and spaced from.zeach1other, a cam structure pivoted upon a h'orizontalyaxis atright angles to theaxis of thelatch; and in "a vertical plane intermediate the :rol-lers,t:said ccam structure having a portion extending V downwardly in; the space between the rollers and being. formedmith downwardly and inwardly inclined :arcuateicam; faces by which the rollers are engaged, whereby when the cam oscillates upon :its :pivot honet of. therollers will be engaged to liftx'the latch ifrom engagement with the strike plate, a. latch .bar pivotally connected to the lever portion. of said cam and extending longitudinally of the chairs nel-shaped lintel, a torque rod extendingiivera tically and rotatably supported by the T1001? post adjacent to-the door pivot, aconnection'fbee tween the torque rod and said operating: rod whereby as said rod rotates the operatingrod will be drawn to swing the cam, a panic bolt cross-bar mounted upon a horizontal :axis on thedoor; and a trigger carried by the torque rod and engaged by the cross-bar to cause-the torque rod to rotate;

'7. An overhead latch structure 'for' a swinging door having a recess in its upper edge :adjacent to its-free end and astrike plate mounted within said 'recess comprising, a latch mounted 'within the lintel of the-door-frame,-said latch comprising a latch arm-extending horizontally from the lintel of the'door frame and overhanging the swinging door, bearings mounted within the lintel of the door frame for supporting the latch arm for vertical swinging movement, means "at the free end of said arm for engaging the-strike plate, a pair of extension arms" fixed to the latch arm and being disposed "parallel to each other upon the opposite side of the pivotal axis of the arm, apair of rollers, one carried on :the free end of each of said'a'rms, their axestbeing at. right angles to the pivotal axis of the "latch arm, a latch cam mounted within the Iintel of the door and having opposite downwardly and inwardly inclined faces to be engaged by said rollers, ahorizontal pivot for said cam in a plane below the plane of the axes of the rollers when the vlatch arm is in its latchingpos'i'tion, a lever extension fixed with relationv to the latch .cam and. extending below the pivotal axisthereofi-a .U-shaped yoke member, pivoted to said .lefver extension and having np-turned legs adapted to move to obstructing positions beneath the rollers vwhen the rollers are in their uppermost positions andthe ;cam is'in its normalvoentrally-aligned ,-sosll i9awl r by,the atch ar rad o;

its latched position, a latch bar pivotally connected to said yoke adjacent to one leg thereof whereby a pull on said bar will impart a swinging movement to the latch cam and will move the legs of the yoke out of an obstructing position with relation to the rollers, and means for moving said latch bar.

8. The structure of claim 7 including an operating bar loosely connected to said latch bar, yieldable means interposed between the latch bar and the operating bar tending to separate said bars, yieldable means acting to resist movement of the operating bar in a direction to move the latch bar, and means for positively moving the operating bar in said direction.

9. The structure of claim '7 including a latch trip structure associated with said latch bar and adapted to hold the latch arm in its non-latching position when the door is open.

10. A latch structure of the panic bolt type to be used in combination with a door frame and a swinging door therein including; a latch mounted in the lintel of the door frame and adapted to engage the swinging door and hold it against swinging movement, a trigger mounted on the post of the door frame, a panic bolt crossbar pivotally mounted upon the door for vertical swinging movement, said panic bolt crossbar being adapted to engage the trigger and move the same, and operating means between the trigger and the latch whereby movement of the trigger will be transmitted to the latch to move the same.

11. A latch structure of the panic bolt type to be used in combination with a door frame and a swinging door therein including; a latch mounted in the lintel of the door frame and adapted to engage the swinging door and hold it against swinging movement, a trigger mounted on the post of the door frame, a panic bolt crossbar pivotally mounted upon the door for vertical swinging movement, said panic bolt crossbar being adapted to engage the trigger and move the same, operating means between the trigger and the latch whereby movement of the trigger will be transmitted to the latch to move the same, and yieldable means tending to move the latch toward its latching position.

12. In a latch structure of the panic bolt type for use with a swinging door mounted within a door frame having side posts and a top lintel, a panic bolt cross-bar mounted upon the door to swing vertically when pressure is exerted thereagainst, a latch trigger pivotally mounted on the post of the door frame and adapted to be engaged and moved by the end of the panic bolt cross-bar as it swings toward the door, and a door latch mechanism mounted in said lintel connected with and actuated by said trigger.

13. In a latch structure of the panic bolt type for use with a swinging door mounted within a door frame having side posts and a top lintel, a panic bolt cross-bar mounted upon the door to swing vertically when pressure is exerted thereagainst, a latch trigger pivotally mounted on the post of the door frame and adapted to be engaged and moved by the end of the panic bolt cross-bar as it swings toward the door, a door latch mechanism mounted in said lintel connected with and actuated by said trigger, and means forming a part of said latch mechanism and holding the same in a positively locked position until actuated by said trigger.

14. In a latch structure of the panic bolt type for use with a swinging door mounted within a door frame having side posts and a top lintel, a panic bolt cross-bar mounted upon the door to swing vertically when pressure is exerted thereagainst, a latch trigger pivotally mounted on the post of the door frame and adapted to be engaged and moved by the end of the panic bolt cross-bar as it swings toward the door, door latch mechanism mounted in said lintel connected with and actuated by said trigger, means forming a part of said latch mechanism and holding the same in a positively locked position until actuated by said trigger, and means actuated when the door is in its open position to hold the latch means in its non-latching position.

15. The combination with a swinging door, a frame including side posts and a top lintel, a latch in the top lintel and a panic bar on said door, of a latch operating mechanism including a trigger mounted on one of said posts in the path of movement of said panic bar, and a linkage from said trigger extending upwardly therefrom to said lintel, said linkage including means extending along said lintel to said latch, whereby said latch may be operated by and with actuation of said trigger by said panic bar.

16. In a latch device for use with a swinging door mounted within a door frame having side posts and a top lintel, the combination of: a cross-bar mounted upon said door to move toward said door when pressure is exerted against said bar; a latch trigger mounted on a post of the door frame in a position to be engaged and moved by said cross-bar when the latter is pressed toward said door; a door latch mechanism provided on said door frame and holding said door closed; and means on said door frame operatively connecting said trigger with said latch mechanism to move the latter by said movement of said trig er to release said door.

17. In a latch device for use with a swinging door mounted within a door frame having side posts and a top lintel, the combination of: a cross-bar mounted upon said door to move toward said door when pressure is exerted against said bar; a latch trigger mounted on a post of the door frame in a position to be engaged and moved by said cross-bar when the latter is pressed toward said door; a door latch mechanism provided on said door frame and holding said door closed; means on said door frame operatively connecting said trigger with said latch mechanism to move the latter by said movement of said trigger to release the door; and housing means on said door frame for enclosing said latch means, said connecting means and the mounting for said latch trigger, said trigger extending through said housing and into the path of movement of said cross-bar when the latter is shifted toward said door.

DANIEL C. HAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,079,603 Marty Nov. 25, 1913 1,536,829 Dyer May 5, 1925 1,568,135 Carroll Jan. 5, 1926 1,666,677 Bolles Apr. 17, 1928 1,721,489 Prinzler July 16, 1929 2,343,519 Balch Mar. 7, 1944 

